Education, Higher - As introduced, requires each public institution of higher education to classify a student who is the spouse of a service member who has not resided in this state for at least one year as an in-state student for tuition purposes if the service member's spouse resides in this state while enrolled in the institution; adds dependants of active-duty military personnel or veterans residing outside of this state to those who are eligible to receive the in-state tuition rate at a public institution of higher education; requires, instead of allows, the governing board of each such institution to provide the in-state tuition rate to military-affiliated individuals. - Amends TCA Title 49.
HB 1789 requires Tennessee public colleges and universities to classify military spouses and dependents of active-duty service members or veterans as in-state students for tuition purposes, regardless of whether they’ve lived in Tennessee for one year. This applies if the spouse or dependent resides in Tennessee while enrolled, maintains continuous enrollment, and meets citizenship or residency requirements. The bill amends state law to make this mandatory (replacing "may" with "shall") and expands eligibility to include military dependents living outside Tennessee. It takes effect for the 2026-2027 academic year and applies to all public higher education institutions in the state.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 22, 2026
Last action Apr 15, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
13
Key actions
6
Committee
10
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Committee
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/1/2026
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Committee
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Education Committee
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/24/2026
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
P2C, ref. to Education Committee
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
Assigned to s/c Higher Education Subcommittee
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Jay Reedy
RRepublican
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